NBA All-Star – As Capital One Arena renovates, Ted Leonsis says Washington could pursue NBA and NHL All-Star weekends, while urging fans to know the leagues control tickets.
A major midseason sports showcase could be back on Washington’s radar as the Capital One Arena prepares for a sweeping makeover.
Ted Leonsis. CEO and chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. said the organization plans to put forward bids for marquee NBA and NHL All-Star events once the renovated building is operating at full capacity.. In an interview. Leonsis framed the idea as a natural next step for a city that is already positioning itself around a landmark arena return date. while stressing that hosting still depends heavily on league control.
Leonsis also sounded a note of caution for fans, pointing out that the league—not the home team—determines much of the experience, including ticket inventory and premium seating.
In this context, the distinction matters: All-Star weekends can be a boost to visibility and tourism, but the “host city” role is often more about the venue than direct control over who gets the best seats.
Monumental’s renovation project. reported as costing more than $800 million. is intended to update Capital One Arena ahead of the 2027-28 season.. Work is set to close the arena this summer. with additional phases focused on new access points and a revamped exterior. and portions of the outside work expected to run into 2026 and beyond.. Leonsis indicated that any All-Star bid would likely be years down the line. aligning with how long a major building project takes to reach completion.
He referenced his skepticism about All-Star glamour. a stance rooted in past experiences as ticket holders learned that leagues control inventory during these weekends.. Leonsis said he learned firsthand during the NBA All-Star experience in 2001 in Washington that expectations from the home organization can differ from how the league distributes tickets across teams and sponsors.
That history also helps explain why Leonsis is careful about messaging: winning a marquee weekend is a complicated process, and fans may not always get the seats they assume come with hosting.
Even with those limitations, Leonsis argued the effort can still make sense for the region.. He suggested a major event could help show off the renewed arena while drawing visitors to local hotels. restaurants. and transit systems.. The logic is closely tied to the way high-profile sports weekends tend to ripple outward beyond the venue itself.
Leonsis’ vision extends beyond basketball and hockey’s biggest nights.. He said bringing women’s professional hockey to Washington is something Monumental is actively watching. including the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s expansion discussions.. He described the success of a neutral-site event at Capital One Arena that drew a strong crowd and sparked fan energy. while noting that Monumental’s timeline is constrained by the arena renovation.
In the final view. the bigger takeaway is that Washington’s sports ambitions are increasingly tied to infrastructure and fan-facing experience.. Whether it is an NBA or NHL All-Star bid—or something new in women’s hockey—the renovation is becoming the platform for how the city competes for national attention.
Separately, the makeover includes a museum-like approach inside the building.. Leonsis said the District Arts Collection will feature curated art and memorabilia. aiming to turn the arena into a more interactive space that connects fans to sports history through artifacts displayed throughout multiple levels.